“That’s my plan,” he said after practice Thursday, according to the San Antonio Express-News. “I feel good. I probably could have played (Wednesday against Charlotte). Probably best I didn’t, just give it a couple of extra days to get back to 100 percent.

“Just tried to be smart about it, especially at this time of the season. We have a good little stretch here just to get healthy and get ready for the long run.”

Duncan hurt his knee in the Spurs’ 90-85 victory Jan. 21 at Philadelphia. Rather than an irritation of any chronic condition, Duncan said, it was a fresh, if minor, injury.

“I just landed wrong, I landed weird,” Duncan told the Express-News. “I kind of jumped sideways to shoot a shot and I came down, my leg kind of twisted. It felt weird.”

The team has gone 4-0 in his absence, part of a nine-game winning streak, including Wednesday’s lopsided victory over the Bobcats.

The Spurs (37-11) have the best record in the NBA.

In 42 games this season, Duncan, 36, is close to averaging a double-double (17.5 points, 9.8 rebounds) in what some consider his best season. He had 24 points and 17 rebounds in that Jan. 21 game against the 76ers.

It is that efficiency and performance that has led the Spurs to rest him to keep him fresh.